Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), is a complex, long-term illness characterised by extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest and worsens with physical or mental activity. It often includes a range of other symptoms, such as cognitive impairments, pain, and sleep disturbances.

Key Symptoms of CFS:

• Severe Fatigue: Unexplained and not alleviated by rest.

• Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM): Worsening of symptoms after physical or mental activity.

• Sleep Problems: Poor sleep quality or unrefreshing sleep.

• Cognitive Issues: Difficulty concentrating or memory problems ("brain fog").

• Pain: Muscle or joint pain, headaches, or sore throat.

• Other Symptoms: Dizziness, heart palpitations, sensitivity to light, noise, or temperature.

Environmental factors may act as stressors that overwhelm the body's ability to maintain balance, leading to systemic dysfunctions such as:

• Increased oxidative stress.

• Persistent inflammation.

• Disruption of the gut-brain axis.

• Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system.

By identifying and mitigating these triggers, individuals with CFS/ME may experience symptom relief or improvement in quality of life.